Shadows in the Night by Evan G Andrew

Author:Evan G Andrew
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, regency, georgian, smugglers historical, revenuemen
Publisher: Evan G Andrew

Chapter Fourteen

‘If they call you ‘pretty maid’

and chuck you ’neath the chin’

Molly brought Gerald to the morning room where Julia, dressed for their ride, was waiting for him. After the usual pleasantries she asked him to be seated. An inquiring look came over his face but he sat, or rather sprawled, in the chair across from her, while she explained her conversation with Wyatt on the previous day. He raised an eyebrow when she said that perhaps he could unravel the connection of her great uncle’s business activities and his association with Wyatt.

‘Hmm, so that rogue wants to embroil me in all of this does he?’

Julia clenched her hands together and almost pleadingly begged of him. ‘If you know what Great Uncle Thomas was involved in, with or without Wyatt, please, please tell me.’

He absent-mindedly scratched the side of his head.

‘I really don’t know everything. Mr Farraday was a very reticent man regarding his affairs, and it’s dangerous to talk.’

He lowered his voice and looked towards the door.

‘There are ears everywhere.’ He stood up. ‘I think perhaps it would be better if we went for our ride.’

Walking over to her, he whispered, ‘We can continue our conversation outside.’

She nodded her agreement, inwardly thinking herself a fool for not having thought of it herself and led the way to the stables. Her mind was confused as she tried to formulate the questions she so longed to have answered.

It was while they were walking the horses together and Gerald was chatting in an inconsequential way about the Wentworth family that Julia brought herself to interrupt him, somewhat abruptly, using Wyatt’s words to her.

‘According to Wyatt you knew my great uncle better than I ever realised. Please, Gerald, tell me whatever it is you know and I promise my lips will never reveal to another living soul what you tell me.’

Impulsively, she leant across and put her gloved hand over his. His eyes fixed on hers for what seemed an eternity, and then he sighed and in a low voice began to speak.

‘Do you know why Mr Farraday never married?’

The question took her by surprise for Athene, at that moment, reared her head and sidestepped a little as a cluster of butterflies hovered about her head, causing Julia to remove her hand from Gerald’s to settle the mare.

‘No, not really. There was some talk. Mrs Knight alluded to it. She thought he had been disappointed in love as a young man, and after that, took something of a dislike to women.’

Gerald gave a harsh laugh and turned a burning gaze upon her.

‘Well, he wasn’t that young when he fell in love and do you have any idea who the lady was that he became so enamoured of?’

Julia remembered with a sinking heart, how, on the day of her arrival in Winchelsea, her great uncle had commented on her lack of beauty compared to her mother.

She remembered from her childhood the whispers of the servants and her father’s features clouding over at the mention of his uncle’s name.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.